Thailand’s Regional Container Lines (RCL) continues to order 4,300 TEU container ships from Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company Limited, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
RCL has announced the exercise of an option for two 4,300 TEU container ships from Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, bringing its order book for 4,300 TEU container ships at the shipyard to six. The new effective orders are expected to be delivered in November and December 2027.
In previous news, RCL ordered 4,300 TEU container ships at a cost of $56.6 million, with the total value of the current order for six new vessels at $339.6 million (about RMB 2.46 billion). The first four units are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2027.
The new ships will be of a new design that allows for the use of conventional fuels, with a focus on green and sustainable development and significantly lower fuel consumption. It can also utilize port power when berthing, which helps to reduce carbon emissions during port operations.
In addition, the container ships are designed to be adaptable and can be further modified in the future to support alternative fuels and green energy.
It is understood that at present, Huangpu Wencong Shipbuilding has formed a batch production line of feeder container ships with specifications of 1100TEU, 1500TEU, 1900TEU, 2700TEU, 3000TEU, 3400TEU, etc. The 4300TEU is the largest feeder container ship that Huangpu Wencong Shipbuilding has undertook, marking another step forward in container ship construction.
RCL is a traditional liner shipping company with a long history in Asia, providing liner services and container feeder transportation services mainly in East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Indian Peninsula. Its fleet currently operates 34 container ships, including 29 owned ships and 5 chartered-in ships.
